Shakib century in vain as Pakistan coast home

MULTAN, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistan produced another clinical performance to crush Bangladesh by seven wickets in the fourth one-dayer on Wednesday.

Opener Salman Butt made 74 and Bazid Khan hit 51 as Pakistan reached their target of 211 with 33 balls to spare to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match series.

Earlier, all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan hit a fighting century to rescue Bangladesh after they had slumped to 45 for five after winning the toss on a good batting track.

Shakib and Mashrafe Mortaza (38) set a Bangladesh record for the ninth wicket against any team, sharing a stand of 97 to surpass the previous best of 62 between Khalid Mashud and Mohammad Rafique against West Indies in 2004.

The 21-year-old Shakib reached his second one-day century in the 47th over, taking a single off Shoaib Malik.

Sohail Khan and Umar Gul took three wickets apiece for Pakistan.

Butt, who has now scored 315 runs in the series, notched his seventh one-day half century in Pakistan's reply.

He and Kamran Akmal (36) followed their opening stand of 151 in the previous match by putting on 97.

Wicketkeeper Akmal cracked six fours and a six before being caught at long off by Mortaza off Shakib.

Butt was dropped on 16 and later narrowly escaped being run out following a direct hit by Abdur Razzak.

Bazid, who batted steadily for his second one-day half century, was caught at mid-off by Shahadat Hossain off Razzak.

Mohammad Yousuf remained unbeaten on 37 and Fawad Alam was five not out when Pakistan clinched victory.